Brownsville Bleeds—Leaders Stall. Demand Safe Streets Now.

Jun 12 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 11 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - City will block cars from corners. Barriers, granite, planters will clear sightlines. DOT acts after half of deaths hit at intersections. Brooklyn gets first fixes. Cyclists and walkers may see drivers before impact. Steel and stone replace painted lines.

The Brooklyn Paper reported on June 11, 2025, that NYC DOT will redesign intersections to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The plan uses 'hardened daylighting'—physical barriers, granite blocks, and planters—to stop cars from parking near corners. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' Nearly half of city traffic deaths happen at intersections, often due to blocked sightlines and turning vehicles. The redesign targets high-crash Brooklyn intersections first, including Ocean Avenue at Church Avenue. The move highlights the city's shift from painted lines to physical infrastructure, aiming to reduce systemic risk for vulnerable road users.

• NYC DOT Targets Intersection Danger Zones, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 6 - Two sedans slammed together at Powell Street and Liberty Avenue. Metal crushed. Three men hurt. One driver left unconscious. Police cite traffic control ignored and unlicensed driving.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at Powell Street and Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn. Three men were injured. One driver, age 35, was found unconscious with crush injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. One driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vehicle demolished. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and drive without a license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818427 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - Three drivers and a child hurt when sedans crash at unsafe speed in Brooklyn. Metal twists. Shock grips survivors. Streets scar. No room for error.

Two sedans crashed on East New York Avenue in Brooklyn. Three drivers and a four-year-old passenger were injured. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was a contributing factor. The crash left all involved in shock. No other contributing factors were listed. The data shows the child was in a restraint. The force of the impact injured all but spared two registrants. The street bore the mark of speed unchecked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817815 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 27 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 22 - A box truck hit a stopped sedan on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. One passenger suffered a shoulder injury. The crash left others shaken but not seriously hurt. Police listed no clear cause. The street saw metal, pain, and confusion.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling east on Pitkin Avenue struck the right rear bumper of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. The impact injured a 60-year-old female passenger in the sedan, who suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury and reported whiplash. Other occupants, including both drivers and a 59-year-old male passenger, were listed as having unspecified injuries or no significant harm. The police report did not specify any contributing factors or driver errors in this crash. No mention was made of helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash underscores the danger when large vehicles collide with stopped traffic, leaving vulnerable passengers at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814732 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19